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President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, effectively sealing off Iran\u2019s primary maritime artery, an action that will cripple the Iranian regime\u2019s capacity to resist the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not,\u201d President Trump stated. \u201cEffective immediately, the United States Navy \u2026 will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.\u201d<\/p>\n
The president characterized Iran\u2019s maritime behavior as \u201cWORLD EXTORTION\u201d and warned that any vessel paying an \u201cillegal toll\u201d to Iran would be denied safe passage. \u201cOur Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!\u201d he added, noting that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) will begin full enforcement on Monday, April 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n
While the military rhetoric is sharp, Miad Maleki, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and former U.S. sanctions strategist, warns that the economic consequences for Tehran will be absolute. Maleki calculates that the blockade will inflict roughly $435 million in combined economic damage every single day\u2014totaling a staggering $13 billion per month.<\/p>\n
According to Maleki, over 90% of Iran\u2019s $109.7 billion in annual trade transits the Persian Gulf. With oil and gas accounting for 80% of government export earnings and 23.7% of the national GDP, the closure of the Strait \u201czeroes this out overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statistics provided by Maleki paint a grim picture for Iran\u2019s energy infrastructure. Kharg Island, which handles 92% of the country\u2019s crude exports, generates between $53 billion and $78 billion in annual revenue. Under the blockade, the 1.5 million barrels per day Iran was exporting\u2014valued at $139 million daily at wartime prices\u2014will cease entirely.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the petrochemical sector, which saw $19.7 billion in exports over a nine-month period in 2024\/25, faces a daily loss of $54 million. Maleki notes that Iran\u2019s non-oil exports, including minerals and metals, will lose another $79 million per day.<\/p>\n
The blockade targets the heart of Iranian logistics. The Shahid Rajaee port handles 53% of all cargo operations, while Imam Khomeini handles 58% of basic goods imports. Maleki argues that Iran\u2019s attempts to bypass the Strait are \u201cnegligible.\u201d The Jask bypass operates at only 70,000 barrels per day\u2014a fraction of its intended 1 million barrel capacity\u2014and the five Caspian ports combined can only handle 11 million tons of cargo compared to the 220 million tons that move through the Gulf.<\/p>\n
The internal impact is expected to be catastrophic. With food inflation hitting 105% in February 2026 and rice prices up sevenfold, the loss of $159 million in daily imports will accelerate a total currency collapse. The rial has already plummeted to 1.5 million per dollar, forcing the regime to issue a 10-million-rial banknote worth a mere $7.<\/p>\n
Perhaps most critically, Maleki points to a \u201cstorage clock.\u201d Iran has roughly 20 million barrels of spare onshore storage capacity. At current production levels, this will fill in just 13 days. Once full, Iran must \u201cshut in\u201d its wells. Maleki warns this could cause \u201cwater coning,\u201d permanently destroying 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day of production capacity. This would result in a permanent loss of $9 billion to $15 billion in annual revenue, even if the blockade eventually ends.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blockade,\u201d Maleki concludes, \u201cmakes continued resistance economically impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n1\/10 The U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would cost Iran approximately $276M\/day in lost exports and disrupt $159M\/day in imports, a combined economic damage of ~$435M\/day, or $13B\/month.<\/p>\n
Over 90% of Iran’s $109.7B in annual trade transits the Persian Gulf. Oil\/gas\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/fOwhRltQhv<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Miad Maleki (@miadmaleki) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n